Bilkent's new Philosophy elective courses are getting an A+ from students like Süleyman, who is among the first to take one of the classes. Taught by Dr. John Bolender, who received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Columbia University in 1996, students had their choice of Modern and Ancient and Medieval Philosophy classes this semester. Next semester students can pick either Modern Philosophy, which focuses on 17th and 18th century philosophers like Descartes and Kant, or Introductory Philosophy, which focuses on fundamental philosophical issues like "Are we really free?"

Süleyman and a fellow Modern Philosophy classmate, third year Electrical Engineering student Burak Subaşı, say the class has greatly improved their ability to structure, analyze, and express an argument or point of view, skills they've found valuable in other classes and in extracurricular activities.

Both students are involved in debates organized by the İşletme ve Ekonomi Kulübü (Management and Economics Club), and they say taking the class is making them better debaters. "The class is about methodology - how philosophers question each point," says Burak, whose team won Bilkent's debate tournament in November and will represent the University at an inter-university tournament in March. "What is impressive about a speech is not necessarily what you say, but it's how you say it," he says.

Burak finds these same skills useful in his Electrical Engineering classes. "It helps you understand how to break things down into the fundamentals," which is an important part of figuring out how to complete complex engineering projects, he says. Süleyman says the class has changed the way he looks at international issues. Sometimes students examine issues using only those tools and perspectives traditional to their area of study, he says. Taking the Philosophy class has made SŸleyman sensitive to that limitation. "It gives a general perspective about the universe. It helps me avoid one-sidedness," he says.

Dr. Bolender points out that like Süleyman and Burak have discovered, students from almost every discipline can benefit from exposure to Philosophy. "Almost every field involves argument and philosophy is all about evaluating argument, so it's good practice," he says. Students also like Bolender's classes because their serious subject matter is presented in a relaxed atmosphere. Says Burak: "It is a free and open environment with lots of discussion and interaction. Where else can you talk about things such as "what is God?" or "What is substance?" without sounding weird? I think it's a fun class and he (Dr. Bolender) makes it fun. I enthusiastically recommend the class."